In late October in the Washington, DC area, especially by the water, the temperatures can turn quite chilly for an outdoor wedding. On this day, the weather was absolutely perfect for this fusion Indian wedding at Celebrations at the Bay in Pasadena, Maryland, which has uninterrupted views of the Chesapeake Bay. While the couple and their wedding party’s attire were vibrant in color, the decor used softer palette of colors. All photos by Echard Wheeler Photography.

When the bride is a graphic designer, you know all the paper products will coordinate and look great as shown in these guest welcome bag info cards.

I loved the bride’s orange and gold sari. You don’t see this color combination too often.

The groom wanted to have a short baraat because he thought it was one of the more fun elements of an Indian wedding. If you need a guy that can get the crowd dancing, Dholi Ram is your guy.

Bridesmaids ready for the processional with their thali plates.

A tradition I learned with this wedding is washing of the groom’s feet as he is welcomed by the bride’s family as he enters the ceremony area.

During the Hindu ceremony, the groom ties the mangalsutra necklace around the bride’s neck, the Indian version of the wedding ring. I also loved this white open mandap design by Prabha Bhambri, very airy and doesn’t block the water view.

After the Hindu ceremony portion, the groom’s cousin performed a civil ceremony.

Being sailors, this “message in a bottle” guestbook was a cute idea.

Escort cards display.

This was the largest kings table I’ve designed for the wedding party and their dates so far, seating nearly 30 people!

At nearly every Indian wedding, you will enjoy a lot of dancing and performances. I love this about their culture.

These two are gorgeous and stylish. Look at their evening outfits!

Strands of jasmines draped the back of the bride and groom’s chairs. Beautiful, and fragrant, touch!

Fusion weddings are always so interesting to plan, trying to give a nod to both families’ cultures and religions while also acknowledging the couple’s individuality. We’ve featured many Indian weddings in this blog. Check them out!